The Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation, better known as BOOST, a conditional cash transfer program has been described as the “flagship” of the Dean Barrow administration’s “pro-people/pro-poor” policy – hailed for lifting families to a higher standard of living. It offers financial incentives for adhering to a carefully monitored list of social indicators. But […]
Belize continues to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl, and here in the Belize District at least twenty-two families who have spent weeks of their lives in shelters can expect to come home – to a permanent home – by the end of the month. Thousands were affected when the category […]
The Ministry of Human Development this morning formally launched what it calls a “one-stop shop” for everything you need to know about Belize. Called BelizeInfo, it comes out of the I.D.B. – funded Community Action for Public Safety (CAPS) project started five years ago. With over sixty-five thousand data values ranging from measurement of homicides […]
For now, the Ministry is taking charge of the system, with other ministries of Government and even private entities contributing data for collation and analysis. But the main marker for its success will be how it is used. For more on that we spoke to Ministry C.E.O., Judith Alpuche. Judith Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of […]
Another initiative was launched this morning at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City. The United Nations Development Programme, with support from the EU and other partners, is financing a Biodiversity Finance Initiative, BIOFIN. A one point six million dollar package over the next two years will be invested on a biodiversity finance strategy to ensure […]
Eleven years ago, in 2005, the Belize National Teachers Union went on a week-long strike joining other organizations in a sustained campaign against government on the economic issues including proposed tax hikes at that time. Tonight, the B.N.T.U. is preparing again for strike action against the government if its eight demands are not met. Eighteen […]
Today, President Luke Palacio said they intended to meet with the other unions to tell their side. He also addressed the warning he gave last week about intending to sue Government over allegations of union-busting. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “Yes, every effort will be made to meet with the other unions; we definitely […]
In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave specific examples of Government’s attempts to compromise with the Belize National Teachers’ Union. One is the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, which the unions have championed since its introduction several years ago. According to the Prime Minister, while the Bill died at the end […]
Palacio confirmed that the strike action is not indefinite. Despite the Union’s own financial issues, he says the teachers are quite willing to make the sacrifices necessary to cut the Government down to size. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “No, we cannot say that it’s indefinite, but we know that we will carry out […]
The Prime Minister conceded that he was prepared to increase to two the Opposition representatives on the Senate Select Committee to investigate the Special Audit on the Immigration Department. Today, we caught up with the Opposition Leader John Briceño. He expressed continued support to the B.N.T.U. That aside, Briceño condemned Government’s bullying and conniving ways. […]
Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee aired on Saturday night. The Showtime documentary chronicles the activities of software tech John McAfee while he lived in Belize. The sensational documentary was produced by award winning filmmaker Nanette Burnstein. It includes interviews with local politicians, journalists, family and friends of Gregory Faull, along with those closest […]
Saturday’s National Party Council meeting of the People’s United Party in Belize City was more of a celebration of the party’s sixty-sixth anniversary of formation in 1950. But there was one major item of importance on the agenda. That is the formation of a “Shadow Cabinet” – a group of party spokespersons that will closely […]
The People’s United Party has been hammering Government on the B.T.L. deal, stating that Belizeans must find five hundred and fifty seven million dollars for a company worth about one hundred million dollars. Today, in advance of Thursday’s return to the Caribbean Court of Justice to settle the dispute over whether payments should be made […]
While on the issue of B.T.L. the state-run company has confirmed that it has contracted the services of Ingetelca to assist with their recovery process following the damages to its infrastructure from Hurricane Earl. While that company is Colombian owned, B.T.L. acknowledges that its employees in Belize are Guatemalan. The issue has been bubbling on […]
There is also an online report alleging that one George Orellana, a member of the Board of the National Institute of Culture and History, has Guatemalan origin and close ties to Minister of Culture Elodio Aragon and other Belizean and Guatemalan officials. It suggested that he had recently been asked to tender his resignation from […]
The Belize National Teachers’ Union continues to have support from its grassroots partners, including COLA. President Geovannie Brackett says the Union’s demands are just the same as their own, and are not unreasonable or unwilling to compromise as depicted by the Prime Minister. Brackett stated that this fight is one that the country needs. […]
As we reported earlier, the sixty-sixth anniversary of the formation of the People’s United Party comes up later this week, on Thursday. The Opposition Party will dedicate this day to unveil a re-worked Good Governance Policy. Party leader John Briceño shared details today. John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader “It’s going to be a very important […]
A fire in Belize City destroyed a man’s home and personal belongings. Marlon Usher of Arlington Drive said he was hospitalized so he wasn’t at home when his house was destroyed by fire around eight on Saturday night. The Belize City man said that he suspects arson. Here’s what he told News Five about the […]
At news time tonight, there are reports from Corozal that a body, believed to be that of a U.S. national, has washed ashore near the Finca Solana area. A white Ford Explorer pickup was also stationed in the area. At this early stage, the identity of the man is yet to be confirmed and so […]
Gringo, a documentary by Showtime producers on the life of John MacAfee, airs this Saturday on the US network. But before that happens controversy is already raging. Producers Nannette Burstein and Jeff Wise set out to follow the trail behind murder allegations against anti-virus mogul for the documentary. But on Thursday, four of John McAfee’s […]
The fifth person to come forward is Edward McKoy of twenty-six Dean Street in Belize City; he is a former security personnel employed by McAfee, who claims he was paid three thousand Belize dollars to provide information through an interview for the documentary. McKoy is the first to provide a paper trail; and News Five […]
Thursday’s four and a half hour meeting between the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, and members of the Belize National Teachers’ Union concluded just around news time. From the immediate reactions of both sides, it seems there is still no conclusion to a saga begun months ago in the wake of the scandals surrounding the William […]
As we reported on Thursday night in our interview with Prime Minister Dean Barrow following a meeting with the Belize National Teachers Union, he appeared not to be concerned by the one hundred and fifty million dollars in domestic borrowing the Government must undertake to repay the former owners of Belize Telemedia Limited for the […]
Still on finances….this week we learned that Belize faces greater than ever economic strain, due to the expanding debt issues the country faces. Not the least of these is the Superbond, which sees a step-up in payments due next August. On Independence Day the Prime Minister promised he would have a solution before he leaves […]
Hurricane Earl swept through Belize since August but months later the damages left in its trail are multiplying. Several of eighteen fishermen on the island of Caye Caulker say they need significant help to recover from hurricane Earl, which threatens more damage to an industry that has already seen significant damage in other areas such […]
